I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 223 The Vampires of Holland

   Bruegel returned to his residence with the dark wizards of Flanders.

It can't even be called a residence, because it's just an abandoned church, and outside the church is an unmanaged cemetery. When they came here, they also sent a lot of ghouls and goblins - these dark wizards always It is quite reserved and arrogant, or, in the period of the twin kings (after the merger of the Kingdom of Castile and Aragon), under the almost ubiquitous pursuit and search of the Inquisition, the dark wizards can still maintain their own inheritance, and Not that the wizards in France ended up being charlatans and wanderers in a bohemian motorcade, which is already great.

What is hateful is that the king of France did not care about the rules and gaps between the inner world and the outer world. He not only boldly used himself as a bait, but killed Bosch and his vassals in one fell swoop - Bosch in the dark wizard. Although notorious in China, he has also won the recognition and following of many of his peers. His death made the dark wizards frustrated-because they all knew that Bosch was not only dangerous, but also cunning, even despicable, to kill such a man. Dark wizard, it is not an easy task.

In addition, it was Louis XIV, whose army, like a grate, combed every inch of the land he conquered, with Italian wizards from Cayola, priests of the Inquisition, good and evil, mortal Intertwined with inhuman forces—because the enemy is facing the enemy, whether the army is in the city or in the village, it does not need to consider the feelings of the local residents, and when it is humiliating to the Flemish people, it is also Let the dark wizards be invisible - according to the king's

The decree, the people of Flanders, each must apply for the so-called identification certificate, a person needs the certificate of three adults, people without fixed assets will be strictly questioned, and if a person wants to leave His own city, such as a merchant, needs to obtain a permit from the French, and it is impossible for the dark wizards to walk around the city as they wish.

  Especially the dark wizards who camouflaged themselves as painters, bards and alchemists, who found that as soon as they revealed their identity, they were immediately thrown into prison. If they resist, the sharp whistle will attract the priests and wizards with the army. Not only do they outnumber the dark wizards who are always alone, but they also meanly ask for help from mortals—dark wizards can be pierced by arrows and bullets, not to mention, those hateful mortals are still encountering When it's time for tricky prey, bring in mortars - **** it! Is that something for wizards? Even Merlin, who can turn into a giant dragon, would have a headache...

Therefore, although Bruegel immediately began to gather the forces left by Bosch after he determined that his teacher Bosch was dead, there were only a few dozen dark wizards here. Fortunately, although the church was deserted, It's still quite big, but the cold and damp night wind is constantly blowing in the broken glass, and the dark wizards don't even dare to light a fire. A dark wizard who is good at refining magic medicine walks around and sells so-called " Hot medicine", and it was quickly revealed that it was a plant fruit brought by the French king from the colony. It would feel very spicy after eating, and then the body would heat up. The dark wizard said without shame: "So do you want it?" he said brazenly.

A few dark wizards still bought them. The fruit of this plant can indeed expel the cold from the body as soon as possible, and it has no bad effect. However, these are all wizards who are not skilled enough in magic. Most of the dark wizards use their own The skin is turned into stone or clay so they don't feel cold.

When Bruegel walked in, they all looked at the dark wizard who could only be described as a middle-aged man from the outside. Bruegel didn't speak, but walked to the altar—the stone altar. There is no white linen, and there is no delicate sacred artifact, but it can show the beauty of gold... A lot of gold coins, they are the currency used in the whole lowland area, they belong to the provincial coinage, the purity is very high, the value of one is the same as Gold and Louis equivalent, the front is the anthropomorphic portrait of the Netherlands, the reverse is a lion holding a sword in one claw and a bundle of arrows in the other. They fell from Bruegel's hands like running water on the stone altar. The playwrights of Lumpy have described it this way - the lustre of gold is incomparable to anything, it can make the ugly beautiful, it can make the old young, and it can make a man of bad reputation a saint, but He didn't say, the voice of gold also had the same effect, it sounded so pleasant, the dark wizards came to the altar, Bruegel looked into their eyes, as if he had seen his leader.

   "It's all... true." A dark wizard muttered.

"It was our Prime Minister who took it out of the treasury with his own hands." Bruegel said excitedly. At this time, these gold coins had been piled up on the altar. In the past, these money would not have been put away by these dark wizards. In the eyes—they always had countless businesses to do in Flanders, but now, their patrons were either dead, in prison, or burdened with enormous taxes—issued by their new owners. There is no room for them to evade and perfunctory. France is like a glorious sunrise that slowly rises, not Spain, which is getting weaker and weaker.

It's been a long time since these dark wizards have been comfortably enjoying a warm and soft bed, a good meal, a lovely girl, and some of them have run out of materials to cast spells and curses. —By the way, their market has also been severely hit. If those priests are wolf dogs with a keen sense of smell, those wizards are the same foxes as them. Some dens and hounds may not be found, but for the same kind, it is almost impossible. As if exposed in broad daylight.

   "That's not all." Another dark wizard asked greedily.

"Of course not," said Bruegel, "think about the price of Louis XIII. Louis XIV will only be higher. Gentlemen, as long as we succeed, we will not only get money, connections, and the East India Company. shares, and an island, which will be our domain." There was also a king, of course, Bruegel was careful not to divulge the slightest bit.

   The dark wizards suddenly made a burst of excitement.

At this moment, a small laughter came from above Bruegel, although there were many people in the dark wizard laughing - happy laughter, weird sneer, vicious sneer, but this laughter The sound was still captured by Bruegel, he raised his head sharply, and a dark wizard beside him also raised his head, "Oh," he was a little nervous at first, and then said relaxedly: "It's a bat."

   He just said this when he saw Bruegel hurled a plume of sulfur powder: "Don't be stupid!" he yelled, "Our barrier won't even put a mosquito!"

  The firelight passed through the darkness, and went out without touching the shadow of the bat.

Dark wizards are always used to setting up various magical traps, obstacles and snares where they land, and this church is no exception. It's not that they suffer from mosquito harassment like mortals, but there are many curses, all through Insects to achieve - such a place, how can there be such a bat? Bruegel's cry caught the attention of the wizards, who then realized that, at some point, the moonlight thrown into the church was no longer so complete—they were cut to pieces by hundreds of bats.

   They didn't know when they came, silently, hanging from the ceiling of the church one by one, their eyes glowing red like charcoal fires that were about to go out.

"If we disturb any noble prince," Bruegel said as calmly as possible, "we will leave immediately, gentlemen, we are just some exiled dark wizards, and we have no intention of staying here for a long time." He glanced at the gold coins on the altar, waved his hand gently, and the dark wizards moved their footsteps - this is not the time to be stingy with money, if the affairs of the inner world can be solved with gold, it is really worthwhile.

   But as if the death knell of the dark wizards was sounded, the door of the church suddenly slammed shut, sawdust and dust rustled down, and lifted the dark wizard who was closest to the door all over his head.

   Bruegel's breathing paused.

The big bat that had previously hung above Bruegel's head, its body seemed to melt, slowly hanging from the decaying lampstand to the altar, the slender black shadow slowly reappeared. It started to widen, but it seemed like an instant, it swelled to the size of the whole church, and then suddenly contracted - the fire lighted up, the cloak opened, and the "man" inside was, no, it should be Amon, the prince of Zmich , smiled slightly.

Although Bruegel called them "Prince" before, it was just to show respect, but when he saw Amon, he couldn't help but turn pale and his eyes darkened - as a dark wizard, it is impossible for Bruegel to not know Amon. Meng's existence and appearance - the demons are all lunatics, and although Amon is their think tank, he is also the most crazy one. If there is a choice, Bruegel may be more willing to meet the prince of Le Senjing.

   "His Royal Highness..." Bruegel bowed humbly, almost touching his knees with his forehead: "Please forgive our recklessness, Your Highness, we didn't know this place belonged to you before..."

"This place doesn't belong to me." Amon said in a tone that was close to kindness: "You don't know that Zmich's territory is in Livonia." His words and attitude made Bruegel a bit Hi, it’s not that there are no dark wizards who occasionally encounter vampires. Although they are both dark creatures, the relationship between wizards and vampires is not good. Vampires regard wizards as delicious food, and wizards need vampire teeth, blood and bodies as spellcasting. , materials for sacrifice or curse, but if neither side wants to fight, then one side can pay some price to get out.

Amon glanced at the dark wizards, and the look in his eyes became more and more strange: "Oh, although I really want to see what you will use to bribe me," he said: "But didn't you think of it? I , and my children are here—for you, disciple of Bosch, Bruegel . , He raised his head and waited for Amon to finish the last sentence: "Although it's a bit regrettable, everyone, death is not such a bad thing."

Amon unsurprisingly watched Bruegel's eyes from being docile and even flattering, to becoming vicious. The dark wizard took a step back and made a mistake with his hands, and a handful of brilliant rays of light like the sun burst out from between his fingers. This kind of light that is very close to the sun is a poison for the vampires. The bat swarms screamed and flew out of the church, and the light in the hands of the dark wizards continued to explode. Obviously, they are all done. Prepare both hands.

A giant bear transformed from a dark wizard slammed open the door of the church. The dark wizards either incarnated or shouted their mounts, and the light followed them closely, although their eyes were also affected. Great stimulation, almost impossible to open, but the relief is that the vampires are also almost blocked at a distance, and then see their respective means - but faster than them is a rolling black mass The thick smoke, like a long-awaited beast hiding in the darkness, swallowed the dark wizards in one bite, and the light suddenly disappeared.

The swarm of bats rushed into the black mist as if falling from mid-air. The sounds of spells, screams and struggles were incessant. A handsome vampire walked out suspiciously dragging something. In the moonlight, he looked over and over again. , and took a bite, making sure it was a drawing board.

Bruegel's gift is to be able to walk freely in the drawing board, just like he walked from the drawing board to the Prime Minister's office, he can also escape from the small portrait he carries to a secret and safe place, he fell to the ground, Before the floor was full of dust, he took a few breaths eagerly, and then coughed in embarrassment. He stood up staggeringly, remembering that he had a bottle of wine stocked here, and groping to get it.

   "Why don't you light the lights?"

   A sound rang out, a little flame jumped from the candle, the wine flew, and a glass was filled with wine.

Bruegel looked desperately at Amon, who was sitting on a chair with his arms crossed comfortably, and glanced at the glass, which was filled with scarlet liquid and fell in front of Bruegel's eyes. .

   "Since when did the prince of Zmich degenerate to the point of being hired by mortals?" Bruegel, who knew that he was dead, asked in a hoarse voice.

   "Probably because Louis gave me a price that I couldn't refuse." Amon said.

   The last thing he left to Bruegel was darkness and coldness.

   (end of this chapter)